You Don’t Have to Buy a Green Car to Go Green

If you want to help the environment, you may think about things like using non-toxic cleaners in your home, using less electricity in your life, and even going vegetarian. In some extreme cases, you might even consider ditching your car for a bike! But you can keep your car and help the environment (even if you’re not driving a hybrid or an electric car) by taking a few simple steps. Tweaking your existing car maintenance routine can help you save gas and help the environment. This article at Huffington Post explains what you can do:

1. Maintain proper tire inflation. Tires are meant to be inflated according to the recommended pressure standard for your car. Information regarding your vehicle's recommended pressure is usually listed inside your car's doorframe, or look for it in the owner's manual. Maintaining tire pressure is important for efficient fuel use. A reduction of 3 pounds below the recommended pressure results in a loss of 1 percent fuel economy. Tires may lose up to 1 pound of pressure in a single month. Check your tire pressure at regular intervals, before any significant car travel, and before carrying large weighty loads. Flabby tires can affect driving safety, handling, and tire wear and tear.
2. Purchase the new low rolling resistance (LRR) tires. Buying new tires typically lowers fuel economy by up to 4 percent. Replacing your tires with LRR tires, on the other hand, will actually improve fuel efficiency. All the major tire manufacturers are now producing these greener tires, so look for them when it comes time to replace your current set of tires.
3. Keep an eye on your personal fuel economy. If you see a reduction in fuel economy after a few weeks this may signal some small problem with your brakes or engine. Fixing a minor problem now may prevent a major breakdown at some point down the line.
4. Get regular tune-ups. If you're handy, do it yourself, otherwise take your car to a mechanic for regular tune-ups. Getting car tune-ups can increase fuel economy. You should have some instructions in your owner's manual on how to carry out the tune-up. In general, you should make periodic checks for worn out spark plugs, brake drag, and transmission fluid levels. Wheels should be realigned, tires rotated, and air filters replaced. When replacing transmission and other vehicle fluids, dispose of the old fluids in a safe manner or better yet, recycle them.
5. Replace the oil and oil filter. Changing your car's oil and replacing its oil filter on a regular basis will keep your car running longer and will also help you save on fuel. The owner's manual that came with your car should give you guidelines on how often this should be done. If you have your oil changed at a gas station, check first to make sure they recycle the old oil. If you change the oil yourself, save the old oil and bring it in to be recycled. You can replace the old oil with recycled oil, too.
6. Keep an eye on emissions. Get your emission control system checked out on a regular basis. If you see a warning light come on, it's time to get your emission control system serviced.

So, before you ditch your car and get a bike, remember that you can still help the environment and keep your car. All it takes is a few little tweaks.

Read the original article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/varda-epstein/6-greener-ethos-car-tips_b_4858542.html

Gearing Your Car Up for Spring

We know, we know - it’s still winter and it’s cold and gray too often. But look on the bright side: Spring is less than a month away! Getting your car ready for warmer weather may not seem critical, but winter can damage your car in lots of little ways. By “thinking spring” now, you can prepare for erasing winter’s damage, restoring your car back to its warm-weather beauty.

Edmunds recommends taking the following steps to restore your car in the spring:

1. Get rid of road salt on the undercarriage.

2. Check the tires.

3. Check wiper blades.

4. Rotate the tires.

5. Change the oil and oil filter.

6. Change the air filter.

7. Flush and fill your cooling system.

8. Check the radiator and gas caps.

9. Check the battery and spark plugs.

10. Clean the cabin.

As USA Today points, out, it’s critical to get rid of salt and dirt on the undercarriage of the car. They explain,

“Wintertime driving will coat the bottom of your car with salt, sand and other grime that can cause corrosion. Corrosion can lead to rust problems, which can make your car much harder to resell or even dangerous to drive.

Spend a few extra dollars for the undercarriage power wash at the local car wash or spray the car's bottom with your own hose. If possible, use a car jack to raise the vehicle for a more thorough cleaning, advises Bill Kropelnicki, president and owner of Rambling River Repair in Farmington, Minn. There's no need to use soap or any other cleaner.

While you're at it, open the hood and wipe down the engine with a soft mitt and soapy water. And remove all the leaves and debris that can find their way into the car, says Cliff Weathers, deputy autos editor for Consumer Reports. And remove any crusty white residue off the battery with a toothbrush, baking soda and water. The residue — caused by corrosion — can eventually prevent your car from starting. The cleaning also helps prepare the battery for the stress of warmer temperatures.”

While you’re getting through the last few weeks of winter, start thinking spring and make an appointment to get your car checked for winter damage, have tires rotates, and fluids topped off. You’ll be ready for spring and summer road trips in no time in a few simple steps.

Helping Your Teen Learn to Drive

When it comes to raising a teenager, there are few things scarier than teaching your kids how to drive. Driving comes fraught with many different dangers, but with experience and proper preparation, you know how to mitigate many of these dangers. Your teen, unfortunately, may not. That’s why it’s so important to teach them how to drive. KidsHealth.org suggests remaining calm and having a plan when teaching your teen to drive:

When it comes to driving, experience is an important teacher. The more time young drivers spend building a variety of skills in different road and weather conditions, the more calm and confident they will feel and the better they'll be able to react to challenging situations.
Before each practice session, plan the specific skills you want to go over. If possible, make your lessons coincide with what your teen is learning in driver's education at school. Consider your teen's temperament — and your own. If the lessons are too long, nerves might get frayed and it may be difficult to stay calm.

Not sure what skills your teen will need? Edmund’s rounds up many skills parents may not think to teach their children, including what to do should they be pulled over by a cop or how to handle the “check engine” light coming on. These are skills that may be just as important when it comes to owning a car.

And of course, there’s more to driving than simply getting behind the wheel. Teaching your teen what to do before they get behind the wheel can be just as important as teaching good driving techniques. This website offers a helpful checklist of what teens (and all drivers) should do before they even begin driving.

Are you teaching your teen to drive? What are your best tips for helping teens master driving a vehicle?

Is Texting and Driving an Addiction?

A recent study, commissioned by AT&T, has found that compulsively checking your phone or texting while behind the wheel has a similar effect on the brain as drug addiction.

The study found that more and more people are demonstrating compulsive behavior — dubbed "cell-phone addiction" — with three-quarters of people admitting to at least glancing at their phones while behind the wheel. That's despite 90 percent of people reporting that they know better. 

"We compulsively check our phones because every time we get an update through text, email or social media, we experience an elevation of dopamine, which is a neurochemical in the brain that makes us feel happy," Dr. David Greenfield, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and founder of the Internet and Technology Addiction, said in a statement. "If that desire for a dopamine fix leads us to check our phones while we're driving, a simple text can turn deadly." 

There is good news, however. According to the research, phone addicts can successfully rehab themselves. "Those who are most likely to text and drive are also the most likely to take steps to stop," AT&T said in a statement. "And 82 percent of people who take action to stop texting and driving feel good about themselves." 

To help people stop this dangerous behavior, AT&T is promoting its free DriveMode iPhone app, which activates automatically at 15 mph, silences text-message alerts and automatically responds to incoming messages letting the sender know the user is driving; it also notifies parents if the app has been shut off.

Click here to read the full article from Kicking Tires: http://bit.ly/1tN7dUg

Staying Safe on the Road this Winter

While we all may be dreaming of spring, winter is still in full swing. Make sure you're staying safe on the road with these tips from the NHTSA:

Take Precautions

• Check the weather. Don't hit the road if it's too treacherous to depart.

• If you absolutely need to go outside, plan to leave earlier or arrive later than usual.

• Keep your gas tank at least half-full. If you get stuck in a traffic jam, you might need more fuel just to stay warm.

• Pack a shovel, broom, ice scrapper, flashlight, jumper cables and warning markers or flares.

• Have an abrasive material, such as kitty litter or sand, ready to help with traction.

• Have a blanket, cellphone, some water, food and any necessary medicine (for longer trips through rural areas).

On the Road

• Always wear your seat belt (this really should go without saying).

• Wear winter outerwear, and make sure your passengers, especially children, are bundled up for the snowy conditions.

• Do not text or engage in distracting activities while driving.

Stranded in the Cold

• Stay in your car, and don't overexert yourself.

• Make yourself easy to find by keeping your interior light turned on and removing the cover from the dome light, if possible.

• Put bright markers or reflective material on your antenna or windows.

• Avoid carbon monoxide buildup by avoiding long stretches of idling with the windows up. If you have to keep the car running, make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow, and keep the engine running just long enough to stay warm.

Click the link to read the full article: http://bit.ly/1zGTeDZ

Saving Money on Tires

Knowing when to replace your tires is an important part of being a car owner. Overall vehicle safety is affected by tires that are in bad condition. But everyone knows that replacing tires is expensive, and is not always a task that can be done with ease financially.

This article from AOL Autos gives drivers tips on how they can save some green when it comes time to replace your tires. Now you'll have a safe car and your wallet won't be empty.

1. Determine if it's time for replacement 

To determine whether you even need new tires, do some simple checks on your current set. First, take a penny and place the edge into the groove of each tire. Insert the edge of the penny into the tread upside down, with the top of good ol' Honest Abe's noggin going in first. If the top of Lincoln's head is covered by tread, that means you still have an acceptable and safe amount of tread. Do this test at various points around the perimeter of the tire. If the top of Lincoln's head is visible at any point around the tire, it's time to go tire shopping. You can see an example of how to do this test here. 

Check to make sure the edges of the tires don't show excessive wear, and that the tire pressure is correct. Your owner's manual should have the recommended tire pressure, and most gas stations have an air compressor with a tire gauge in the event that you need to fill them. 

2. Don't replace all four tires unless unless absolutely necessary 

The front tires of a car will often wear out faster than the rear tires. This is especially true if you don't often rotate the tires during your vehicle's life. If your local tire shop insists that you need a new set, inquire about the condition of the rear tires before agreeing to the whole thing. Replacing four tires costs twice as much, and your rear pair could still have thousands of miles of life left. 

If you do buy two tires instead of four, it's better to put the new tires on the back, rotating the older ones to the front position. The newer tires will help the car remain stable if you need to swerve out of an emergency situation. Do not buy one tire at a time. If a single tire is damaged, always get another new one for the other side of the car. 

3. Big brands are not always the best value 

Most people can name two or three tire brands from advertisements and marketing campaigns. The big brands typically produce quality tires, but there are many lesser-known brands that are just as good. The lesser-known brands can save over 50 percent compared with the name brands, and can deliver the same tire life and level of comfort.
You can get recommendations on different brands from a site like Tire Rack. 

4. Get an alignment 

Getting an alignment every time you install new tires is crucial to extending the life of the tires. When your wheels are properly aligned, the tires will wear evenly as they were designed to do. If you install new tires and you wheels are out of alignment, the uneven wear can cause you to need a new set of tires prematurely.

Click the link to read the full article from AOL Autos: http://aol.it/1l1760F

Personal Safety for Teen Drivers

Parents can have a big hand in teaching teens about safety on the road. Here are a few potential driving situations parents should make their teens aware of when it's time for them to hit the road solo:

Back away from possible road rage: The cautious habits of a new driver may inadvertently annoy others, who may yell, tailgate or act in a threatening manner. Aside from causing a dangerous distraction, these encounters can quickly escalate.

The best reaction is to ignore the heated driver and seek distance, says James Solomon, director of training for defensive driving at the National Safety Council in Itasca, Illinois.

"Pull over when it's safe to do so, and wait for the offender to get a good distance ahead of you," he says. "Don't pull out as soon as they pass you; they're likely to jam on their brakes once they get in front of you."

Set an example for your teen by remaining calm and patient when you're at the wheel, and dismiss irate drivers with minimal reaction.

React cautiously to what appears to be an unmarked police car: Any car can signal or flash lights, motioning for another driver to pull over. While rare, police impersonations do happen, so your teen should proceed with caution in response to an unmarked car. At the same time, they need to acknowledge the vehicle as possibly legitimate.

"Put on your hazard lights and continue driving," Solomon recommends. "This indicates that you know they are there, if they really are a cop. But if they aren't, this generates unwanted attention."

The best place to pull over is always a lit, populated area, where the teen driver should remain locked in the car. A call to the local police will confirm if an unmarked officer is patrolling the vicinity.

Don't feel obligated to your peers: A teen with a car attracts attention. Classmates your teenager barely knows will cozy up to secure a ride. It can be hard for young people to turn down their peers.

The message to deliver is that any unknown person is unwelcome in the car, even another teen. And in most areas, a restricted driver license prohibits the teen driver from transporting non-family members.

Since perception is of primary concern to this age group, help your son or daughter formulate some responses to draw upon: "Sorry, I'm going straight to soccer." Or "My grandmother is waiting for a ride." Or "My dad needs the car." These answers give kids an easy out.

Be on the offense in dark parking lots: Teens don't always plan ahead, and often park their car in daylight but return after dark.

"Before you park, think about how long you'll be and what kind of neighborhood you're in," Solomon says.

Tell the teen drivers that if they'll be returning after dusk, they should park under a street light. Walking back to the car with keys in hand not only prevents fumbling around for them, but gives them something to strike with if the need arises. Also, remind them to remain alert.

"This isn't a time to be on the phone or texting," says Solomon.

Don't sympathize with a hitchhiker: An altruistic attitude is common among young people, but it can be dangerous, particularly if they're thinking of offering a ride to a hitchhiker.

"Ask yourself why that person is on the side of the road," Solomon suggests. "Do they have a mental illness? Did they escape from jail? Are they a drug addict, looking to steal your car for money?"

Point out that although the hitcher appears harmless, and maybe even vulnerable, with a pet or child in tow, the reality might be quite different. "Once a stranger is inside your car, it's no longer a safe place," says Solomon.

Teens should know that any time they're concerned about someone's safety, hitchhiker or otherwise, the best way to help is to notify the police.

Click the link to read the full article at Edmunds.com: http://edmu.in/1IDNrjn